5 Memorable Ways To Celebrate Women's History Month In Middle School ELA

Bring Women’s History to Life: Activities and Ideas for ELA Teachers

Every March, we have an opportunity to honor the achievements and contributions of women throughout history. Women’s History Month has been officially recognized in the United States since 1987. It began as a local celebration in Santa Rosa, California, in 1978 and quickly gained national attention. This lead to a week-long celebration in 1980 and eventually evolved into a full month of recognition.

International Women’s Day, celebrated annually on March 8th, has even deeper roots, dating back to the early 1900s. It began as a movement advocating for women’s rights, labor rights, and universal suffrage. Today, it is recognized globally as a day to honor women’s achievements and continue the fight for gender equality.

Why Teach Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day?

1. Promotes Awareness of Historical Contributions: By learning about the achievements of women throughout history, students gain a more comprehensive understanding of historical narratives. Often, women’s contributions are overlooked in traditional curricula. Highlighting these stories ensures that all students appreciate the roles women have played in shaping society.

2. Inspires Students: Exposure to the accomplishments of women, especially those who overcame significant challenges, can inspire students to pursue their passions and dreams. Learning about figures like Malala Yousafzai or Rosa Parks can motivate students to stand up for their beliefs and strive for their goals, regardless of obstacles.

3. Builds Empathy and Understanding: Learning about diverse experiences and struggles helps students develop empathy. Understanding the challenges faced by women, particularly in different cultural and historical contexts, enriches students’ perspectives and enhances critical thinking skills.

4. Connections to Contemporary Issues: Discussions around Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day provide opportunities to connect historical lessons to current events. Students can analyze issues such as the gender pay gap, representation in politics, and women’s rights movements today, making their learning more relevant and impactful.

5. Enhances Critical Thinking: Integrating these celebrations into the curriculum encourages students to think critically about sources, narratives, and biases in history. It prompts them to question why certain stories are highlighted over others and fosters analytical skills.

How Can You Combine Women’s History Month + International Women’s Day With Your ELA Standards?

1. Quote of the Day: Introduce your students to one woman each day and display an important quote that she has shared. This can be done at the beginning or end of your class period. Let students read the quote and give them a few minutes to either write down their thoughts or discuss them with their partner or group.

2. Gallery Walk Experiences: Set up stations around your room that each feature a different woman. Each station can have a picture and short biography about the woman and include a text-dependent question for students to discuss. You can use posters like the ones above to get students out of their seats and talking with their classmates. You can hold students accountable for their answers by giving them a gallery walk guide to record their answers or have students write their answers on sticky notes and post them at each station.

Love these ideas, but don’t have the time to recreate this from scratch? I’ve got you covered! You can grab 36 posters plus editable biographies and questions from my TPT store. Click here to purchase them now.

3. Read Literature Written By Female Authors: Dedicate your reading units during March to short stories or poetry written by women. This is an easy way to incorporate Women’s History Month into your every day lessons. Here are just a few suggestions:

“The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson
“Eleven” by Sandra Cisneros
“Fish Cheeks” by Amy Tan
“Raymond’s Run” by Toni Cade Bambara
“The Story of An Hour” by Kate Chopin
“Phenomenal Woman” by Maya Angelous
“Kindness” by Naomi Shihab Nye
“We Rise” by Amanda Gorman
“For Calling The Spirit Back
From Wandering The Earth In Its Human Feet” by Joy Harjo

4. Nonfiction Close Reading Lessons: Practice reading comprehension skills by reading nonfiction articles. Articles can range from a focus on the origins of Women’s History Month, the yearly theme for International Women’s Day, biographies, or news articles that focus on current events or issues.

5. Short Research Projects: Allow students to choose a topic related to the 2025 International Women’s Day theme. Whether they focus on historical figures, modern advocates, or global celebrations, students can build research skills, learn to present information effectively, and connect their learning to real-world issues.

Here are a few of my favorite research projects that can be used as biography projects:

Looking for a way to combine nonfiction close reading lessons and a short research project? I’ve created a 3 activity lesson that includes a close reading activity, nonfiction scavenger hunt, and a short research project.

Click here to purchase this scaffolded reading resource today!

Bringing It All Together: Meeting ELA Standards

These activities are designed to effortlessly align with your ELA standards. Celebrating Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day in your classroom is a meaningful way to inspire students, promote equality, and build critical thinking skills. With the right activities and resources, you can seamlessly incorporate these celebrations into your ELA, social studies, and history lessons—keeping students engaged and learning while honoring the achievements of women around the world.

Ready to bring Women’s History Month into your classroom? Check out the MADE FOR YOU Women’s History Month resources I’ve created to get started!